Improvement in fire-escapes



P. W.l BARNES. Fire-Escapes.

No. 142,141I f PatentedAugusfzensn.

Witnesses. i inventor.

` fx. M

Anorneys'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER w. BARNEs, or AL'RANY, NEw YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 142,14] dated August 26, 1873; application iiled July 26, 1873.

of which the following is a specification:

Figure l is a top view of my improved reescape, shown as arranged in a window for use, part of the railing being shown as turned down. Fig. 2 is a section of the same taken through the line ab w, Fig. 1, the escape being shown as folded up.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved fire-escape, which may be folded up into compact form, s0 as to be readily kept in any part of the room, and which may be readily opened out and prepared for use. The invention consists in the hinged plates, the hinged railings, the pivoted arms, and their springs, stops, and catches, with each other and with the box, as hereinafter fully described.

A represents the front wall of a house, and B a window. C is a box, one part,.D, of the top of which is stationary, being firmly se cured to the body of said box. 'I o the inner edge of the stationary part D is hinged the adjacent edge of the movable part E of said top. To the outer or opposite edge of the part E is hinged the edge of a plate, F, so that when the plate Eis turned back upon the stationary cover D the plate. F can be turned out of the window to rest upon the window-sill. To the side edge of the plate F is hinged the end edge of the plate G, so that the said plate may be turned out to extend along the wall of building upon the outer side i of the window-blind. In the outer part of the plate G is formed a hole, g, where the ladder' is dropped, so that the'persons esca-ping from the room can readily pass to said ladder. 4

This ladder, which is not shown in the drawing, is designed to be of such a length as to reach tothe ground, to be made of Wire-rope, and, when not in use, to be kept in the closed part of the box C. H are railings, which are designed to `be hinged to the plates F Gr, so that they may be turned up into a vertical position as a guard to those using the escape, and turned down into a horizontal position when said plates F G are to be folded together. I are arms pivoted to the plate E, and provided with springs J, so arranged as to throw said arms outward into the position shown in Fig. 1, to rest against the inner side of the window-casing or wall of the room, to hold the device steady and prevent it from being drawn out of the window. .The arms I are locked, when extended, by stops K, which rest against the edges of the plate E. The arms I, when closed, are held in position by catches L, which are held by the plates G when the device is folded together, so that the arms I may be released by opening the device. When the plates E F Gare folded together they are secured in place by a hook,

`stops K, and catches L, with each other and the box C D, to adapt them for use, substantially as herein shown and described.

PETER WILLIAM BARNES.

Witnesses:

THOMAS SILsEY, Trios. H. FITZGERALD. 

